In Word and Deed

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” — Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17 ESV

Do you ever read quickly so that you can get past the verses in scripture that you just don’t want to deal with just yet? I confess to you that I do, and this is one such verse. Or do you ever find yourself just flying through the words on the page so that you can tick off one more day of your Bible reading plan? I’m guilty of that one as well.

On the surface our text seems pretty innocuous, like when your mother tells you to drive safely. But just below the quiet surface a radical current waits to sweep you away in the river of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t waste words. If we truly desire to be His disciples, we will search His Word as if we were panning for gold, taking our time to make sure we don’t miss even the smallest bit of treasure, ensuring that we understand what God wants to say to us today.

So what does it mean to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus? One way to approach this scripture is to be mindful of what we say and do. Could you add “in Jesus’ Name” when you cut corners at work? How about when you share that bit of gossip you heard by the water cooler? Or when you watch that television program that is not so wholesome? Can you offer thanksgiving to the Lord for the crude joke or insult directed at a friend or coworker? Or the clever lie you told to avoid trouble at home or at work, or to hide who you really are from the people at church?

We all have our jobs, our hobbies, and our “downtime”; and these things are important for our physical and mental health. But we also need to be full-time disciples. We need to be mindful of our thoughts, words, and deeds, as if they are directed to God Most High.

Radical obedience produces radical power. There are two rivers, one is the River of This World and the other the River of Life in the Holy Spirit. We can’t access the power of the Holy Spirit while we are dipping our feet in the inviting waters of the River of this World. Both rivers promise peace, but only one can truly deliver.

As you go through your day, spend some time considering our text. Think of areas in your life where you need to put it into practice.

Blessings on your day!